Played speed chess every night, all night, in Toronto at the chess
tables on Gould Street, corner Yonge Street, from about 1977 through 1985
for $0.50/game (later $1/game)

Famous opening: Smash-Crash Gambit (Greco Counter-Gambit/Latvian
Gambit); adopted by IM David Levy in his loss against Chess 4.7, match,
Toronto, 1978 after Smolij and Levy played blitz chess the night before

Famous claims: World's fastest chess player; 50,000 chess games played

Famous quotes: "I'm poor in the pocketbook but rich in the mind.";
"Kill as you go!"; "Show no mercy!"

Character in Canadian edition of 'Kicking Tomorrow' by Daniel Richler
based on Smolij as a tribute